Brief case



'r. E. SJOBOM May 4; 1943.

BRIEF CASE Filed May 19, 1941 INVENTOR E. $JOB0M A TTORNEY Patented May 4, 1943 UNETED STATES BRIEF CASE Tor E. Sjobom, Alameda, Calif.

A plication May 19, 1941, Serial No. 394,039

3 Claims.

in a structure which is openable as a book and which is arranged to be closed by a slide fastener device.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention, and in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a closed brief case embodying the features of present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view at the plane of the broken line 22 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view at the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section at the line 4-4 in Figure 1.

As particularly illustrated, a brief case 6 is provided having opposite sides I and 8 of like size for defining a receptacle or space 9 between them. The sides 1 and 8 extend from a common edge member I l and each of the sides is provided along its three other edges with a continuous transverse flange l2 having a height substantially equal to half of the width of the edge member H, whereby the opposite sides of the brief case may be substantially parallel when the brief case is closed with the free flange edges in mutual registration. The sides I and 8 and edge H comprise integral parts of a sheet of a suitable flexible material such as sole leather, and the flanges l2 may be of still more flexible material as thin leather or a fabric.

The free edges of the flanges 12 are provided with lines of complementary interlockable members l3 for progressive engagement or disengagement along their lines through the operation of a slide or runner member l4. It will be understood that the present arrangement permits a full mutual connection or release of the sides 1 and 8 except at the constantly closed case edge I l, and that when the entire line of members 13 has been disconnected, the present brief case may be fully opened out as a book to provide ready access to its contents.

It will now be noted that a flat plate 15 of rigid and preferably light material is secured to and against the outside of the brief case side I, said plate being substantially the same size as said side. Rivets l6 secure the plate I5 in place upon the side 1, and the plate acts as a backing plate for the side to prevent its outward distortion by the contents which might otherwise bulge the closed brief case from that side.

Across one end thereof, the plate I5 is provided with an opening ll, which opening is normally closed by a hinged door l8 which is preferably flush with the outer face of the plate when closing the opening. A rectangular and tray-like receptacle I9 is disposed within the brief case cavity opposite the door opening ll, said receptacle being arranged to receive pencils, pens, or other implements for writing or other work to be performed upon the plate and being normally closed by the door IS. The exposed outer face of the plate [5 is adapted for use as a working surface, and the door l8 may be swung open during the use of the plate, whereby to facilitate the use of the combination as a lap desk providing an implement drawer. The plate l5 may have a polished working face, and the entire unit may otherwise have an attractive appearance,

It is to be noted that the present brief case constantly provides the desk plate l5 for its use without necessitating an opening of the brief case, and that the receptacle [9 occupies part of the interior space 9. The unit is particularly valuable for the use of students, and lawyers, and salesmen, and others when they are away from the usual table desk, and may wish to write or make sketches or do other work upon a supporting surface.

As is particularly shown, the door 18 has mutually aligned trunnions 2| fixed thereon and extending beyond its ends through bearings 22 extending from the back of the plate I5. Beyond the bearings 22, trunnion portions 23 are flattened and have the free ends of leaf springs 24 constantly bearing against them, the other ends of the springs being fixed to the case side I and the opposed plate portion. The action of the springs 24 is such that the door is releasably retained in either its fully open or fully closed position; when the door is swung open from its closed position in which it closes the plate opening l1, and reaches a point just beyond one in which it is perpendicular to the plate l5, the springs 24 operate to urge a further opening of the door to dispose it against the adjacent edge of the opening I! to thereby releasably hold the door open. It will thus be understood that the door l8 will be releasably and resiliently held either open or fully primarily illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A brief case or the like having hingedly related tray-like side elements formed of flexible material and cooperative to define a compartment between them, a plate of rigid material fixed to and against the outside of said case side and having a flat working surface at its outer face and provided with an opening therethrough and opposite a corresponding opening in said side, a traylike member of rigid structure extending through said side opening into the compartment of the case and fixed to said plate with its open side registering with the plate. opening, and a displaceable closure member for said opening normally having its outer face flush with the working face of the plate.

2. A brief case or the like having a side wall comprising a rigid plate providing a flat outer writing face and provided with an opening therethrough, a tray-like member for containing writing materials disposed entirely within the compartment for the brief case and fixed to said plate with its open side registering with the plate opening, a closure member for said opening and having a flat face for disposal in flush relation with the outer plate face when the member closes the opening, means hingedly mounting the member on the plate for its swinging between limiting closed and open positions thereof, and means yieldingly resisting a displacement of the memher from either of its said limiting positions and operative to dispose and retain the member in either said position.

3. A brief case or the like providing a compartment having a side wall comprising a rigid plate providing a flat outer writing face and provided with an opening therethrough, a tray-like memher for containing writing materials disposed entirely within the compartment and fixed to said side wall with its open side registering with the plate opening, a closure member for said opening, means mounting the closure member on the side wall for its movement between limiting closed and open positions thereof, and means yieldingly resisting a displacement of the member fromeither of its said limiting positions and operative to dispose and retain the member in either said position.

TOR E. SJOBOM. 

